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Laos +856

International code · Asia

How to dial

Calling from abroad +856 20 XX XXX XXX

Dial +856, then the local number. Drop the leading trunk prefix 0. Generate the full number →

For domestic long distance dial 0 first, then the area code. Local calls: dial directly.

Mobile length
10 digits
Mobile prefixes
20 XX XXX XXX
International format
+856 20 XX XXX XXX
Domestic trunk
0

Sign-up availability

What to expect when signing up for these services with a physical SIM from this country:

ChatGPT Works
Claude Works
WhatsApp Works
Telegram Works
LINE Works
WeChat Works
X Works
TikTok Works
Gemini Works

Applies to every platform: VoIP / virtual numbers and heavily-reused number pools get rejected. Physical SIM only.

Checked 2026-09-12. Platform region policies and number-range allocations change — always confirm against each platform’s official supported-regions list and the carrier’s notices.
4 sources
help.openai.com/articles/7947663www.anthropic.com/supported-countriessupport.google.com/gemini?p=gemini_web_availabilitywww.mappr.co/tiktok-bans-by-country

How to read a number

+8562012345678

+856Country code
Laos.
20Prefix
A Lao mobile number is 20 followed by 8 digits (dialled domestically with a leading 0, as 020). 20 is registered to Unitel.
12345678Remaining 8 digits
The subscriber number.
This section checked 2026-10-31.
2 sources
www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/oth/02/02/T02020000750001PDFE.pdfwww.unitel.com.la

Number ranges & quality

RangeTypeNotes
Starts with 20, 10 digits Mobile carrier A Lao mobile number is 20 followed by 8 digits (dialled domestically with a leading 0, as 020). That comes from the 2010–2011 expansion: in the notice the then regulator NAPT sent to the ITU, each old 7-digit number got one extra digit — ETL moved to 20 22 and 20 23, ETC to 20 54, 20 55 and 20 56, MLL to 20 77, and STL to 20 98 and 20 99. Laos hasn't notified the ITU of its numbering plan since, so there is no public official table for ranges issued later.
Intl SMSStable
Virtual-number riskLow
ID requiredRegistration is mandatory (Ministry of Technology and Communications, final deadline 16 Dec 2023); visitors use an original passport, or official apps such as LaoKYC.

Physical SIMs can sign up without issues; foreign visitors usually need to register with a passport.

Carriers & prefixes

Mobile prefixes by carrier.

Number portability status unverified.

Porting rules in full

We found no official Lao statement on whether numbers can be ported, so this is marked unverified.

For ranges, the only official source we could find is a 2011 ITU notification, which names the operators by abbreviation (ETL, ETC, MLL, STL). This site only lists ranges where the match is direct: ETL has the same name, and Unitel's own site says its numbers start with 0209. Lao Telecom's and TPLUS's ranges weren't confirmed, so none are given.

  • Unitel Mobile carrier

    20 9

    Its site asks for numbers in the form 0209XXXXXXX (or 856209…). In the 2011 ITU notification, 20 98 and 20 99 belonged to STL.

  • Lao Telecom Mobile carrier

    Official site laotel.com. Its ranges weren't confirmed from an official source, so none are listed.

  • TPLUS Mobile carrier

    Official site tplus.la. Its ranges weren't confirmed from an official source, so none are listed.

  • ETL Mobile carrier

    20 22, 20 23

    Ranges per the 2011 ITU notification.

This section checked 2026-10-17.
2 sources
www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/oth/02/02/T02020000750001PDFE.pdfwww.unitel.com.la

SIM cards & keeping a number

Phone numbers in Laos must be registered. The Ministry of Technology and Communications pushed this from June 2020 through several extensions to a final deadline of 16 December 2023: from 1 October 2023 no new SIM or number is issued without ID, and unregistered numbers are cut off, with the ministry saying legal action and fines follow (Laotian Times). Registration can be done through official apps such as LaoKYC. Visitors show an original passport at the counter — usually a two-minute process, with no local address or proof of accommodation required (third-party guides).

Read more

Pre-activated SIMs sold on the street may be registered to someone else and can be cut off at any time; avoid them.

How long a number survives unused, and when it is recycled: neither Unitel nor Lao Telecom publishes terms (Unitel’s homepage loads its text by script and laotel.com returned an empty shell here), so no day count is given on this page.

Unitel / Lao Telecom prepaid

Local prepaid
Network
Unitel / Lao Telecom own networks
Price
Third-party guides: tourist packs from 80,000 LAK (about US$3.70) for 5 days; top-up validity works out at roughly one day per 1,000 kip
Keeping the number
Neither operator publishes terms for how long an unused number survives or when it is recycled, so no day count is given here. What is certain is that the number must be registered — unregistered numbers get cut off
ID check
Original passport at the counter, or official apps such as LaoKYC; no local address required (third-party guides)
SMS & calls
A normal Lao number; cost of receiving SMS while roaming in China not verified

Pros

  • Quick to buy on arrival at the airport
  • Cheap

Watch out

  • No official retention period — not suited to keeping a number
  • Avoid pre-activated street SIMs registered to someone else
  • Prices and validity maths come from third-party guides

Where to buy: unitel.com.la

4 sources
laotiantimes.com/2023/09/08/lao-ministry-urges-phone-users-to-register-their-numbers-by-december-16-or-face-fineslaotiantimes.com/2021/09/30/laos-extends-deadline-for-sim-card-registration-2www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/registration-11282023143213.htmllaosesim.com/can-tourists-buy-sim-card-laos

From user and blogger reports; platform risk rules change often — treat as a guide only. This section checked 2026-09-16.

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